Although vigorous exercise is one of the most important steps toward good health, it can also have “side effects,” ranging from muscle soreness to injury. While these adverse consequences of exercise can be minimized by graduated training and careful activity, problems may develop anyway.

Homeopathic treatments (especially topical creams) are quite popular for such sports-related conditions, and, as we shall see, they have shown some promise in studies.

During the 2-week trial, all of the participants received electrical muscle stimulation. The investigators also applied cream—either the treatment cream or another cream without any medicine in it—a total of seven times during the study. The results showed that people given the real treatment recovered more rapidly than those given placebo.

In another double-blind, placebo controlled study, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of the same homeopathic ointment, as well as a modified version of the ointment, for the treatment of various mild to moderate sports injuries, including sprains.
2
All of the approximately 100 participants in the trial had slight to moderate sports-induced injuries that had occurred in the past 4 days. The first application of ointment and a bandage was applied by the investigators on day 1 of treatment. Then, the participants applied the ointment themselves, twice daily, for 14 more days. The results were promising. By the end of the trial, participants using either form of the ointment experienced
significantly
superior improvement as compared to those taking placebo, according to some but not all measures.

Oral Homeopathic Remedies for Sports-related Muscle Soreness

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study tested homeopathic
Arnica
(30X) in 519 long distance runners, but did not find positive results.
3
Participants took five pills twice daily, beginning the evening before a race and continuing for four successive days. Evaluation after the race showed that
Arnica
was no more effective than placebo for reducing post-race soreness or speeding recovery.

Previous, much smaller studies had found some suggestion of benefit for long distance runners, but the results were, in general, not statistically significant.
4,5

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted in the physiotherapy department of a homeopathic hospital in England, evaluated the efficacy of an oral homeopathic preparation in the treatment of muscle soreness caused by stepping exercise.
6
The remedy used was a combination of
Arnica, Rhus tox,
and
Sarcolactic acid
. The results showed no statistical difference between the treatment group and the control group.

Traditional Homeopathic Treatments for Sports-related Injuries

In
classical homeopathy
, there are many possible homeopathic treatments for sports injuries, to be chosen based on various specific details of the person seeking treatment.

If you have an injury that is very sensitive to touch and you would describe the pain as shooting, violent, tingling, or cutting, and you feel worse at night and in the cold, then you may match the
symptom picture
for homeopathic
Hypericum
.
Note:
an injury with symptoms like these suggests nerve involvement, indicating an urgent need for physician examination.

If you feel worse when exposed to motion, drafts, and heat, and during the afternoon, and if you are experiencing spasms, shooting pains, tearing sensations, jerking, trembling, swelling, redness, and heat, possibly with cold extremities, then you may fit the classic symptom picture for homeopathic
Belladonna
.

If you have a sprain with a great deal of swelling and inflammation of the soft tissue around a joint, the homeopathic remedy
Arnica
might be recommended.
Arnica
is also commonly used as a remedy for exercise-induced muscle soreness.

If you have an injury to a bone, cartilage, or tendons, and if touch, motion, and pressure all aggravate you, while warmth helps you, you may fit the symptom picture for homeopathic
Symphytum
. Many homeopathic practitioners use
Symphytum
after
Arnica
if deep pain or soreness remains after the initial soreness has cleared.

If you have stiff, painful muscles brought on by straining, overlifting, or getting wet when already hot and perspiring, and if your muscles seize up with rest but loosen with exercise and heat, then you may fit the traditional homeopathic indications for
Rhus tox
.

Other Natural Options

For herbs and supplements that be useful for sports injuries, see the
Sports Injury
article.

For a thorough explanation of homeopathy, including dilution of therapies, see the
Homeopathy Overview
.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.